10 Golf Resolutions

10 Golf Resolutions

Janus was the Roman god of doors, choices, and beginnings and endings. An odd-looking deity, he’s depicted with two faces, one looking ahead and the other back. The month of January is named after him for obvious reasons, and since we’re nearing 2018, this a great time to channel our inner Janus and make some new golfing resolves. I know we all want to lose ten pounds, or break 90, 80 or 70, but those targets aren’t always attainable. Let’s take a look at some practical goals that you can actually stick with, and get you having the most fun you’ve ever had out on the course.

 

1. No gimmies:

By all means, give them away freely, but don’t give yourself any putts all year. Your touch will improve tremendously, and you’ll have ice in your veins when you’re forced to make that downhill 3-footer on hole 8 of the derby.

2. Walk more:

I get it, time is money and carts are awesome, but golf is meant to be played walking.    

3. Play a course you’ve never played before:

It doesn’t have to be extravagant (although Pebble would be nice), but resolve to go somewhere and play a brand-new (for you) course.

4. Compete:

If you’ve never played in an event, get a handicap and try. Tournament golf is completely different than casual golf, and you won’t know anything about your game until you compete. It’s fine if you just like playing alone, but get out of your comfort zone and test yourself at least once this year.

5.  Always play for something:

It doesn’t have to be money.

6. Find your game:

In the spring, play a one-person scramble, then do it again in the fall (this will show you your potential and how much you’ve improved). Play a round conservatively, where your only goal is to not lose your ball for the entire round. Then play aggressively, going for every pin and hitting driver every hole. Play a round as fast as possible, then really take your time on each shot (preferably when the course is empty). Try one round where you don’t care at all, and one where you care way too much. Your best golf lies somewhere between the extremes. The trick is finding it.

7. Go to a Tour event:

TV doesn’t do it justice. Watch the best in the world play in-person at least once this year.

8. For one week (at least), practice nothing but short game:

The great equalizer. Remember, you can have a great short game and not be a great golfer, but you can’t be a great golfer without a great short game.

9. Resolve to get in some form of shape:

Gyms exist because of New Year’s resolutions. If you’re like me, you’ve often flaked out on a new exercise or nutrition program by the time February hits. Generally, the reason is because we try to do too much at one time. This year, take it easier on yourself and make it simple. Whether it’s walking, jogging, weights and/or yoga, find something you 100% know you can stick with and have time for, even if it’s just a few days a week. Your body, mind, spouse and golf game will thank you for it.

10. Be a happy golfer:

Remember, golf is more than just score. It’s about finding yourself through a game. It’s about making friends and having laughs. It’s about testing yourself under pressure. Ask yourself why you golf, and answer truthfully. There’s no wrong reply, but it’s an important question to ask if you’re going to play.

 

Let’s resolve to make 2018 the best golf season ever. Happy New Year!

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Golf Gift Ideas

Golf Gift Ideas

Ever hear the term “deadweight loss?” It’s used by economists when talking about the waste inherent with Christmas gift-giving. For example, if you buy the golfer in your life a flamingo fedora for $45, but said golfer would have only paid $10 themselves, you have a deadweight loss of $35. Obviously this is common, and economists estimate that $63.5 – $210 billion of such value is lost each Christmas season.

Lucky for us, we’re not economists, we’re golfers. If we’re only concerned about the value of our gift(s), we’re probably not really practicing the spirit of the season. What we can do is give our fellow golfers something they might actually use, all the while showing how much we appreciate them.  Christmas isn’t a financial transaction, it’s a way to show your gratitude for the people you love.

Enough ranting…onto the list!

1. Membership

Experiential gifts are often better than material gifts. When you buy someone a membership, they get the full golf experience, rather than just a driver they’re going to throw in the pond. They’ll undoubtedly appreciate being able to play whenever they want, and chances are they’ll make a lot of new friends along the way. This may cost more than your average gift, but there’s really no better present for an avid golfer.

Membership Options and Benefits at Hart Ranch GC

2. Gift Card(s)

Perfect when you have no idea what to get, gift cards are more sentimental than cash and can be used for EVERYTHING at Hart Ranch, including golf, simulator, merchandise, lessons, food and drink. Instead of gifting that outdated Hawaiian polo they’ll never wear, get a gift card. You and the recipient will be glad you did.

Purchase Gift Cards Online

3. Golf Lessons

We all know someone who needs them! Hart Ranch offers a variety of lessons, from clinics to junior golf to one-on-one series and fittings. We also offer lessons on the simulator so the golfer in your life can keep their swing in tune over the winter. Give us a jingle at (605) 341-5703 and we’ll be happy to help you out.

See Dustin or Jared for Lesson Availability

4. All Kinds of Other Cool Things

There’s no shortage of awesome stuff in golf. Clubs (although we highly recommend scheduling a fitting if you’re going to purchase clubs for someone), training aids, rangefinders, apps, office putting greens, you name it. Check out this list from Golf Digest, or stop in the shop during our Christmas Sale (Dec. 8-10^th and 15-17^th) where we’ll have big discounts on all merchandise.  Have a great holiday season and we look forward to seeing you at Hart Ranch!

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Big Cat’s Back (Not the Fused One)

Big Cat’s Back (Not the Fused One)

Tiger smoked his first practice-round drive 319 yards down the center stripe of the fairway Tuesday, and the unfaithful golf world is once again murmuring “comeback” under their collective breath. Apparently Big Cat is back to bombing the ball (according to Rickie Fowler and Brad Faxon), albeit with a prosthetic leg and a cyborg spine. Unfortunately, ripping the driver is no guarantee of success (see 2017 Watson, Bubba), but it is encouraging.

The Tiger fame pendulum has swung so wildly from sacrosanct golf legend to reprehensible cheater that it’s difficult to plot him on the spectrum. There’s no better place to come back than the Hero World Challenge, a cutless tournament with an 18-player field (he’s guaranteed a top-20!). He’ll be paired with Justin Thomas, Player of the Year and top-5 favorite in every tournament he enters. If Tiger squeezes a couple drivers past him, it won’t matter where he finishes. The grandstands will reverberate with every event Woods enters all the way to Augusta.

Sorry LL, but I am calling it a comeback. For one reason or another, this time feels different. At this point, there’s not much to lose. By all accounts he’s just a dad now, and Thanksgiving 2009 is long gone. Of course, the DUI was baffling (how does a guy that rich drive intoxicated?), but he managed to plead it down and hopefully get the help he needs. I might be way off, but I’m calling one 2018 win and a major top-10. That would be a huge success considering where he’s been recently (currently ranked 1,199th in the world), and if it doesn’t happen, he can always play the injury card or just surrender and retire.

Tiger’s 2017 swing looks compact, pure, reminiscent of days past. Although golf is in a good place right now, nostalgia creeps into the psyche of every industry leader when they remember how much he meant to the bottom line. The golf world and its casual fans can always use a spark, and if Tiger’s actually healthy, he’ll set that world on fire. Enjoy.

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Why We’re Thankful for Golf

Why We’re Thankful for Golf

 

With our annual foray into the gluttonous expansion of our waistlines Thursday, we thought we’d give a few reasons why we’re thankful for golf. The game can be infuriating, thrilling, hilarious and confounding, often all in the same round. As the English poet William Blake said, “The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest,” so read on, fellow golfer, and while you’re uncomfortably assimilating that third helping of potato gratin, take a moment to reflect on what this fascinating game means to you.

You can get whatever you want out of it:

Breaking news: 99.99% of us aren’t going to make our living playing golf (more below). So why do we spend so much of our valuable time with a club in our hands? The answer’s different for everyone. Golf has its gamblers, range rats, social strollers, tank-top-wearing muni regulars, 70 year-old beginners, aspiring professionals and everything in between. You can compete in high-pressure tournaments or only play alone. There are a lot of possibilities, but at some point you’ll want to ask yourself why YOU play. There’s no wrong answer, and that’s the beauty of it. Maybe you just like to try to hit the range picker. Good for you. If you’re respectful of the courses you play and other golfers, you can make the game whatever you want.

You can make your own rules:

In my opinion, there are only four things every golfer should abide when playing:

1. Keep pace and let faster groups play through
2. Respect other players (i.e. turn down the music if another group is near, yell FORE if needed, etc.)
3. Leave the course in better shape than you found it
4. Never cheat if you’re playing against anyone for anything (of course, you and your playing partners can agree on your own special rules)

Other than that, have at it. Here’s a good list of rules you can try for your next casual round, but feel free to get creative.

The PGA/LPGA/European Tour:

I’ve often said golf is the most difficult sport to make a living strictly playing, with the possible exception of basketball (read this). The talent at the highest levels of the sport is absolutely ridiculous .  While it’s true that there are more avenues to playing in a professional golf tournament than taking the court with Lebron James, take a look at this infographic on 2016-2017 PGA Tour Monday Qualifying:

If you’re a scratch golfer on a course similar to Hart Ranch, you’d have to get an average of 9 shots better per round to even get close to the PGA Tour (probably not happening). That’s what makes watching the best in the world so fun, especially under immense pressure at majors. It’s unreal to me that players like Justin Thomas or Lexi Thompson can have the seasons they had, sustaining excellent results throughout the year with the talent level that exists at the upper echelons of the sport. Tour-level golf is in a really good place, especially if Tiger can actually compete again.

It’s funny:

Golf inherently lends itself to hilarity. If you play long enough, you’ll fall down laughing at least once. Guaranteed.

Anyone can play at any age:

Sure, like learning an instrument or a language, you’ll probably be better if you grow up playing, but that’s not always the case. Toddlers play golf, as do the elderly, disabled people, wounded warriors and many others. If you’re interested, there’s no reason you can’t play.

The settings are remarkable:

Of course, we’re partial to the sunsets at Hart Ranch, but there are plenty of jaw-dropping vistas throughout the golfing world. Get out and see them.

It’s difficult, but we’re all in this together:

I know it’s tough to be grateful when you shank two balls into the pond on 12 and finally tap in for a 9, but hear me out. Golf is rewarding because it’s impossible to master, and there’s always room for improvement. The nice part is, every avid golfer has been there with you, even if they’re really good. Everyone who plays has hit terrible shots, and will again.

The golfing powers that be are addressing this issue, and equipment is better than ever at correcting errant shots. Taking lessons and getting fit for clubs can help immensely. Just remember, golf isn’t always about your score. Getting outside and having a good time with friends and family is far more important than shooting a number.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Of course, there are many more reasons we’re thankful for this game, but this post is long-winded as it is. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, and since it looks like we’re going to have some awesome weather (we’re closed Thursday and Friday, but will open back up at 9am Saturday) this weekend, swing out to Hart Ranch and golf off that extra piece of pie. Happy golfing!

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Simulator Rundown

Simulator Rundown

Click Here for Hours and Rates

With our inaugural simulator league opening next Monday (Nov. 20th), I wanted to give you some quick indoor golf tips and let you know what the simulator is all about.

This year, we have a new setup on the back deck, which gives you a lot more room to swing. We have two TVs running the simulator and one with cable (so we can watch whatever game is on any given night). There are some comfortable lounge chairs and the deck is heated for those cold winter evenings. In the past I worked at a simulator company (I’ve seen a lot of them), and our current setup really is awesome for indoor golf.

This year, the launch monitor (LM) is lined up so you can hit directly into the middle of the net. It was a little difficult last year to line up correctly due to our limited space, as we had to set the LM at an angle. Now, it is pretty simple to line up square to your target. You’ll also feel less crowded in our new area, so those trying it for the first time will be a more comfortable swinging freely. Keep in mind that your distances may be a bit shorter than your used to until you get the hang of it, but you will!

In my experience, the most difficult part of playing indoor (or any?) golf is the short game. You don’t necessarily get a sense of the depth you normally do on the course, and most of us don’t play exact yardages from 30-70 yards (we’re usually just picking a landing spot and playing by feel). The benefit is that by playing the simulator a lot, you’ll really dial in your wedge distances and know exactly how much swing you’ll need to get the ball near the hole with any given club. The most surprising aspect to me has been how much indoor golf has improved my overall on-course game, by allowing me to dial in my yardages and really feel confident with how far the ball is going to travel.

Our current LM is a SkyTrak, and it’s pretty accurate. I haven’t seen any discrepencies in distance. Like any LM, it will miss a shot occasionally, but overall the product is good and you’ll get an accurate sense of distance, spin rate, club speed, etc. It’s excellent for clubfitting, and we’re also offering indoor lessons if you’re looking to tune up your game before spring.

When playing on any of the 15 courses our software offers, we’ll usually set it up to auto-putt (as we will for Monday Night League), because it’s difficult to get a sense of the speed and break needed to hole putts. If you’d like, you can certainly try putting, but we’d recommend letting the computer do it for you.

Give us a call at (605) 341-5703 to book your simulator time. If it’s just one person playing, you can get done with 18 holes in about an hour. If you have two players, we recommend booking for two hours. With three players +, it’s best to book for three hours if you want to play 18 holes. Click the link at the top of the post to see rates, but know that the more people you bring, the cheaper it is to play! If you haven’t played indoor golf before, it’s a fun time and a great way to keep your game in shape while you wait to get out on the actual course. See you soon at Hart Ranch and happy golfing!

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Swing Through the Ball

Swinging Through the Ball

“My practice swing is so different than my actual swing.”

-Every golfer ever

 

The golf ball is in the way of the swing. Swing through the ball, not at it. You’re not finishing. Swing to the target. These are common refrains heard on ranges and courses all over the world. It’s pretty rare that we see someone who can’t make a pretty smooth and repeatable swing without a ball in the way. Swings made with the club hovering above the ground make everyone feel like they should be on tour.

So why is it that our swings become tense lashes when a ball is presented? The first issue is the clubface. We don’t need to worry about hitting the ball straight, so we don’t manipulate our hands and body to try and square everything up. Second, there is no performance anxiety, as in, we don’t really care what it looks like and there’s no result to worry about. Third, and probably most importantly, there’s not a lot of tension. I haven’t seen anyone tense up so much they didn’t finish in decent balance on a practice swing.

Let’s take a look at how we can get away from being “ball-conscious” and find that elusive “swing through the ball” feel we all need to get better.

1. Start with the end in mind:

We’ve all done it and seen it: the steering swing that stops wayyyy short of a good finish. The arms and hands are extremely tense, the clubface is probably wide open and the ball is slicing or shanking straight off to the right (or left for a lefty). The easiest drill to combat this is to make sure to finish with your back shoulder (right shoulder for righty, left for lefty) facing the target, the club above your lead (vice versa) shoulder and your back heel off the ground. This is your one and only goal for the swing. If you’re not used to it, it will take some reps.

The second part of this drill is to hold your finish until the ball lands. Not only does this help your balance, but your body will intuitively learn that it must continue through the ball in order to hit a good shot. This is one of the best tricks in learning how to swing through and not at a ball.

2. Relieve tension:

There are multiple ways to do this. Some of my favorites:

Swing with a chip between your teeth and try not to break it

Concentrate on keeping a constant (somewhat light) grip pressure through the entire swing

Hum (hmmmmm) through your whole swing and try not to let the pitch differ…as in, try to keep a constant hum all the way into the follow through

Swing with your mouth open and relax your jaw

Listen very carefully for impact

Sing your favorite song in your head

Try the Tour Tempo app (I’d recommend the book so you know what you’re doing)

These are meant to take your mind off mechanics and the ball. Try to focus on one at a time rather than all at once. You’ll probably find that some work better than others.

3. The best drill:

The best drill I’ve found for this common issue is to hit balls with your eyes closed. If you’re getting off track, try to hit two out of every three shots blind. This takes away the visual component that causes us all kinds of swing problems, and will teach you to intuitively swing through the ball. You’ll become much more in tune with where the club actually is through the motion. Henrik Stenson hit thousands upon thousands of shots with his eyes closed when he struggled early in his career. It’s challenging at first, but stick with it. You’ll learn a lot about balance and how your swing operates.

Hopefully this gives you a good starting point. Of course, we all get the tendency to tense up, and these drills will get you back on track. Remember, we’re not trying to swing extremely slowly or anything (we need clubhead speed to move the ball out there), but we are trying to let the ball get in the way of the swing. Swing fast, not hard. Good luck!

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Lower Body Stability

How to Improve This Winter (Part 1)

Lower Body Stability

Since we’re reaching the end of the golf season, I’ve decided to write a short instruction series (not sure how many parts yet) on how you can improve your game in the offseason so you’re ready when spring rolls around again. I’ll offer some simple tips and drills to work on indoors (remember, we’ll have the simulator up and running November 1^st!). If you’ve played much golf, you know trying to make swing changes on the course is disastrous. If you’re going to refine your technique, you need to work on it on the range or in the house, not while playing.

Our first installment is on lower body stability, something we all struggle with time-to-time. As in all sports, the quality of your game is predicated on balance and stability. Watch an NFL quarterback. When they’re forced to throw off their back foot and off-balance, interceptions happen. When they step up in the pocket without pressure, they rifle the ball. It’s the same in tennis, baseball and any other sport where a club/racket is used or a throw is required. Your lower body is your foundation, so we’ll focus on that first.

Notice how Rory’s hips have rotated but he’s turned into a stable right knee. This is what we’re looking for. Also, he’s allowed his left knee to point slightly behind the ball, not in front. There’s not a ton of knee flex here either. His lower body is completely balanced, stable and athletic. 

We generally see one of two things: the legs and hips wildly swaying, or no lower body movement at all. Both are going to cause bad contact and errant shots. Let’s take a quick look at both:

Swaying (Most Common):

This is a fault you’ll see on any common driving range. The legs are moving all over the place, and there’s no foundation to the swing. Big compensations are required to even make contact with the ball, let alone hit it square.

The trail knee (right for right-handers, left for lefties) is the key here. It provides stability in your backswing and sequencing in your downswing (more on that in a later installment). If your trail knee is buckling backwards or drastically straightening, you’re in trouble.

Drill:

Set up a with your trail knee a few inches from a wall (or if it’s nice enough out to hit the range, use an alignment stick and actually hit balls). Your goal is to turn back without the trail knee moving towards (swaying) or away (straightening) from the wall. You should feel a strong coil in your torso as you turn against the back knee, and a good amount of pressure under your right foot. This is the exact feeling you want in your swing. Also, your lead knee (left for a righty) should point slightly behind where a ball would be on the ground. If needed, your lead heel can come off the ground a bit. If your lead knee points straight forward (not behind the ball), you’re not allowing your hips to turn. If it’s almost touching your right knee, you’re over-rotating your hips.

The trail knee is key here, but I’ll give you a word of caution. Don’t try to completely lock your trail knee in place or over-flex your knees at address. This is a dynamic movement, and trying to do too much here can result in injury. Simply try to retain the SLIGHT flex you had in your trail knee at address while you turn into it. The knee might rotate a bit, and that’s fine. You just don’t want it to straighten or kick outwards.

No Lower Body (Less Common):

This comes from the modern “restrict your hips as much as possible to create torque” myth. The idea is to wind your body up like a spring. Unfortunately, our bodies aren’t springs and don’t work that way. Yes, we need stability and want to coil, but completely restricting the hips usually results in an arms-only slash where we get really out of sequence and take away all athleticism. We’ll often see people flex their knees way too much at address in an attempt to achieve this “torque.”

Drill:

Take good posture by bending from your hips (not your waist) and locking your knees straight. Now simply unlock or soften your knees (DO NOT FLEX THEM). Practice turning back slowly, and allow your front trail pocket to turn directly behind you while maintaining the same bend you had in your trail knee at address. Now your hips are rotating, allowing you to get behind the ball and deliver a powerful downswing. The key is to not let your trail knee straighten as you rotate your hips back. The trail knee will keep you from over-rotating your hips and having to make a big compensatory move back to the ball.

There are other good lower body drills, like putting a ball under your back foot, a range bucket between your legs, etc. Feel free to explore of course, just remember what we’re trying to achieve. You want to use your lower body in the backswing and rotate your hips enough to get behind the ball, but be stable so you have a good foundation and don’t need to make drastic compensations in your downswing. Most people are going to err on the side of using TOO MUCH lower body, but that’s why it’s important to know your faults before working on your game. Hope this helps!

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NBA Season Preview

NBA Season Preview

After the wildest offseason in NBA history, the doors have been blown off and we’re in the era of the “superteam.” Normally, I’d have to agree with Michael Jordan, who said “I think it’s going to hurt the overall aspect of the league from a competitive standpoint. You’re going to have one or two teams that are going to be great, and another 28 teams that are going to be garbage. Or they’re going to have a tough time surviving in the business environment.”

Of course, he might be right, but truthfully there are two teams (Warriors and Cavs) with an excellent chance to win it all and around five (Thunder, Rockets, Spurs, WOLVES!?!?!?, Celtics) who could do it with a big injury (Curry, Durant, Lebron) and everything else breaking the right way. Obviously, the Warriors are hands-down the best team in the league, with two perennial MVP candidates and four All-Stars on their starting roster. This is seriously looking like one of the great NBA dynasties, possibly better than the old Celtics and Bulls behemoths.

Read on to find my bound-to-be-wrong predictions, and enjoy what should be an interesting season, even if the Warriors go undefeated.

Big Moves:

Chris Paul to Rockets

Jimmy Butler to WOLVES!!!

Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to Thunder

Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder to Cavs

Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to Celtics

Paul Millsap to Nuggets

Conference Playoff Predictions

West

1. Warriors
2. Rockets
3. WOLVES!!!
4. Spurs
5. Thunder
6. Nuggets
7. Trail Blazers
8. Pelicans

East

1. Cavs
2. Celtics
3. Raptors
4. Bucks
5. Wizards
6. 76ers
7. Heat
8. Hornets

Conference Championships

West

Warriors over WOLVES!!!

East

Celtics over Cavs

NBA Championship

Warriors over Celtics

Biggest Improvement

WOLVES, 76ers

Biggest Bust

Clippers

Awards

MVP

Kevin Durant, Warriors

Rookie of the Year

Ben Simmons, 76ers

6^th Man of the Year

Andre Iguadola, Warriors

Most Improved Player

Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers

Defensive Player of the Year

Rudy Gobert, Jazz

Coach of the Year

Tom Thibodeau, WOLVES!!!

We now have Westbrook, George and Anthony. Paul and Harden. Towns, Butler and Wiggins. Hayward and Irving. Everyone is doing their best Golden State impression, but chances are no one will catch them barring injury. Anyway, enjoy the season, even if it doesn’t really matter until after Christmas. Happy NBA!

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MLB Postseason Preview

MLB Playoffs Preview

Stonehenge, UFOs, Bigfoot, the 2017 Minnesota Twins. Ladies and gentlemen, there are unexplained mysteries in this world. At the beginning of the year, I’d have sounded like a lunatic if I’d predicted the Twins would be in the playoffs after a 103-loss season a year ago. Well, here we are. Somehow, someway, we’ve managed to sneak into the second AL Wild Card spot and have a date with Clu Haywood (hope you caught the reference) and the Yankees looming tonight. All I can say is I’m surprised and elated with how the team has performed this year. It’s felt like forever since we were here (7 years ago) and regardless of what happens tonight, we have a lot to look forward to in the years to come.

Enough homer ranting. Here is a little preview of what should be an outstanding MLB postseason:

 

Schedule:

Wild Card Round

TUESDAY, OCT. 3	Twins at Yankees, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4	Rockies at Diamondbacks, 8 p.m. ET, TBS

 

Divisional Series

AL-

THURSDAY, OCT. 5	Red Sox at Astros, Game 1, 4 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN
THURSDAY, OCT. 5	WC winner at Indians, Game 1, 7:30 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN
FRIDAY, OCT. 6	Red Sox at Astros, Game 2, 2 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN
FRIDAY, OCT. 6	WC winner at Indians, Game 2, 5 p.m. ET, FS1 or MLBN
SUNDAY, OCT. 8	Astros at Red Sox, Game 3, FS1 or MLBN
SUNDAY, OCT. 8	Indians at WC winner, Game 3, FS1 or MLBN
MONDAY, OCT. 9	Astros at Red Sox, Game 4*, FS1
MONDAY, OCT. 9	Indians at WC winner, Game 4*, FS1
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11	Red Sox at Astros, Game 5*, FS1
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11	WC winner at Indians, Game 5*, FS1
NL-
FRIDAY, OCT. 6	Cubs at Nationals, Game 1, 7:30 p.m. ET, TBS
FRIDAY, OCT. 6	WC winner at Dodgers, Game 1, 10:31 p.m. ET, TBS
SATURDAY, OCT. 7	Cubs at Nationals, Game 2, 5:30 p.m. ET, TBS
SATURDAY, OCT. 7	WC winner at Dodgers, Game 2, 9 p.m. ET, TBS
MONDAY, OCT. 9	Nationals at Cubs, Game 3, TBS
MONDAY, OCT. 9	Dodgers at WC winner, Game 3, TBS
TUESDAY, OCT. 10	Nationals at Cubs, Game 4*, TBS
TUESDAY, OCT. 10	Dodgers at WC winner, Game 4*, TBS
THURSDAY, OCT. 12	Cubs at Nationals, Game 5*, TBS
THURSDAY, OCT. 12	WC winner at Dodgers, Game 5*, TBS

 

Championship Series

AL –

FRIDAY, OCT. 13	ALCS, Game 1, FOX or FS1
SATURDAY, OCT. 14	ALCS, Game 2, FOX or FS1
MONDAY, OCT. 16	ALCS, Game 3, FOX or FS1
TUESDAY, OCT. 17	ALCS, Game 4, FOX or FS1
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18	ALCS, Game 5*, FOX or FS1
FRIDAY, OCT. 20	ALCS, Game 6*, FOX or FS1
SATURDAY, OCT. 21	ALCS, Game 7*, FOX or FS1

 

NL –

SATURDAY, OCT. 14	NLCS, Game 1, TBS
SUNDAY, OCT. 15	NLCS, Game 2, TBS
TUESDAY, OCT. 17	NLCS, Game 3, TBS
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18	NLCS, Game 4, TBS
THURSDAY, OCT. 19	NLCS, Game 5*, TBS
SATURDAY, OCT. 21	NLCS, Game 6*, TBS
SUNDAY, OCT. 22	NLCS, Game 7*, TBS

 

World Series –

TUESDAY, OCT. 24	Game 1, FOX
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25	Game 2, FOX
FRIDAY, OCT. 27	Game 3, FOX
SATURDAY, OCT. 28	Game 4, FOX
SUNDAY, OCT. 29	Game 5*, FOX
TUESDAY, OCT. 31	Game 6*, FOX
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1	Game 7*, FOX

 

This postseason is a story of powerhouse teams. The Indians and the Astros both won 100 games in the AL. The Dodgers were well on their way to the best record in MLB history before hitting a 1-16 skid. The Red Sox, Nationals, Cubs and Diamondbacks are all stacked with immense talent. Although the Indians look like the favorite due to a ridiculous pitching staff and closing the season on a 41-7 run, anything can happen in October.

Predictions:

AL –

Wild Card –

Twins over Yankees (duh…and I’ll be wrong)

Divisional Series –

Astros over Red Sox

Indians over Twins

Championship Series –

Astros over Indians

NL –

Wild Card –

Diamondbacks over Rockies

Divisional Series –

Cubs over Nationals

Dodgers over Diamondbacks

Championship Series –

Dodgers over Cubs

World Series –

Astros over Dodgers

This is because of Justin Verlander, a future HOFer who is still searching for his first World Series ring. He provides a huge spark to a team with an already dangerous lineup, and I feel he will be the Series MVP. He’s pitched in two World Series, but is 0-3 in those starts. Look for him to right the ship, and for the Astros to give Houston something to cheer for after Harvey.

Enjoy the best time of the sports year ladies and gentlemen!

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Tour Championship Preview

Tour Championship Preview

“-Then who knows? Maybe you’ll win the Tour Championship one day. Get that gold jacket that I never got.

Gold jacket, green jacket who gives a —-”

Well, here it is. We’ve finally turned a significant corner in golf with the end of Tiger’s career. Without the big cat in play, the best and most popular players in the game are friends who go on spring break together and make funny videos. They bomb the ball, they’re supremely talented and they’ve ushered in the new era of golf. 2017 had a lot of ups and downs, 59s and awesome major performances, but it will  mostly be known as the year we finally said goodbye to Tiger. It was one helluva run.

This is the last significant tournament with the exception of the President’s Cup (Sept. 28^th-Oct. 1st).

Course: East Lake Club, Atlanta, Georgia (home course of the legendary Bobby Jones)

7,385 Yards, Par 70 (yikes)

Top 10 (FedEx Cup Standings):

Regular Statistics
RK	PLAYER	AGE	EVENTS	ROUNDS	CUTS MADE	TOP 10	WINS	CUP POINTS	EARNINGS
1	Jordan Spieth	24	22	74	18	11	3	2,000	$9,153,033.00
2	Justin Thomas	24	24	75	17	11	5	1,800	$8,976,560.00
3	Dustin Johnson	33	19	66	16	8	4	1,520	$8,555,443.00
4	Marc Leishman	33	24	86	21	7	2	1,296	$5,714,140.50
5	Jon Rahm	22	22	79	20	10	1	1,280	$5,843,247.50
6	Rickie Fowler	28	20	73	17	10	1	1,120	$5,937,072.50
7	Hideki Matsuyama	25	21	72	18	7	3	960	$8,234,445.00
8	Justin Rose	37	17	61	14	7	0	800	$4,009,058.00
9	Brooks Koepka	27	23	76	18	6	1	640	$5,297,397.00
10	Paul Casey	40	23	86	22	8	0	480	$3,556,973.50

 

The top 5 in the field (Spieth, Thomas, DJ, Leishman and Rahm) are the only players who control their own destinies. If Spieth, Thomas or DJ win, look for them to also win Player of the Year. If none of the top 5 win, the field is blown fairly wide open. Obviously, players 6-10 have the best shot.

Losing DraftKings Lineup:

Webb Simpson

Kevin Chappell

Sergio Garcia

Justin Rose

Justin Thomas

Patrick Cantlay

Prediction: I’m going to roll with Justin Thomas in this one. He’s become a household name, and will become a superstar after winning this event outright. Look for some crazy odds at next year’s Masters when he pulls it off.

Have a great golf weekend! Remember, we’ve got Retribution of the Ranch on Saturday, so if you don’t have a team and tee time yet, call us at (605) 341-5703 soon to get registered – times are filling up quick!

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BMW Championship Preview

BMW Championship Preview

What would you rather watch? Playoff golf or every half-yard your backup bye-week fantasy tight end fights for during Jets – Browns? I’ll have to admit, for me, it’s Jets – Browns. Unfortunately, the FedEx Cup Playoffs aren’t nearly as exciting as major championship golf or even the PLAYERS. It’s hard to care too much about someone worth half a billion winning $12 million. When golf starts to compete with the NCAA on Saturdays and the NFL on Sundays, you know what’s going to give.

So, all that being said, this year is actually pretty good. We have three of the best young players at the top, and whichever one wins this thing will almost certainly be crowned Player of the Year (golf’s MVP I guess?). The PGA modeled their playoff format off the highly successful NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and overall, it has worked well. Here’s a little preview of the upcoming “semifinal” this weekend:

Course: Conway Farms G.C., Lake Forest, Ill.

7,208 Yards, Par 71

Architect: Tom Fazio

Purse: $8.75 Million

Defending Champ: Dustin Johnson

The top 70 in the FedEx Cup Standings will be playing. This is the first FedEx Cup event without a cut. Here are the top 10 in the FedEx Cup Standings and their points:

RK	GOLFER	CNTRY	WINS	TOP 10 FINISHES	TOP 25 FINISHES	POINTS
1	Jordan Spieth		3	10	15	5,071
2	Justin Thomas		5	11	13	5,044
3	Dustin Johnson		4	8	13	4,650
4	Hideki Matsuyama		3	7	12	3,021
5	Jon Rahm		1	9	12	2,894
6	Rickie Fowler		1	9	15	2,217
7	Marc Leishman		1	6	14	2,084
8	Paul Casey		0	8	16	2,065
9	Brooks Koepka		1	6	11	1,952
10	Pat Perez		1	6	12	1,894

 

As you can see, it’s going to be extremely difficult for anyone to catch the top 3. By the end of the BMW Championship, the field will be trimmed to 30 for the Tour Championship (the one Happy Gilmore won) at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

First off, look for an extremely low score here. DJ won last year with a score of 23-under, so a bunch of pars are not going to win. Key stats this week are going to be Strokes Gained (SG): Tee-to-Green, SG: Approach, Birdie or Better % and Approach Proximity: 100-125 Yards. Players like Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson have both won at this course, so there are multiple ways to get it done. Here’s my losing DraftKings lineup:

Zach Johnson

Kevin Na

Marc Leishman

Rickie Fowler

Charl Schwartzel

Xander Schauffele

Prediction: While I think any of the top 3 could easily win, I’ll roll with Rickie Fowler. There’s so much talent there, but he keeps getting barely overshadowed…this is the week.

Hope you enjoy the golf this weekend (if you watch any), and all the best to your NFL team, as long as it’s the Vikes. Skol!

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September Happenings at Hart Ranch GC

September Happenings at Hart Ranch GC

F. Scott Fitzgerald said “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall,” and hey, so can your golf game. We have some new things happening this year, including a Monday Night League and a Fall Tournament Series. Read on to find out what they’re all about…

Monday Night League –

On Monday nights starting September 11th, we’ll be playing golf from 3pm-6pm. What’s different? Should you choose to accept, we’ll play a birdie madness format, where birdies accrue towards a season-long (4 weeks or until it gets too cold) pot that builds every week depending on the number of players. If you’re at or near the top of the list at the end, you’ll win! So it’s fair, gross birdies will count for 1 point, and nets will count for 0.5. Therefore, a gross eagle will count for 2 and a net eagle will count for 1.5. You’ll want to participate as many weeks as possible to have the best chance of winning. If this all sounds confusing, don’t worry about it. Just tally up your score and we’ll take care of it.

The other half of the Monday Night League will be a weekly game, where we play a stableford-quota format. Basically, your 9-hole course handicap (CH) will be subtracted from 19. Your goal is to meet your quota to get in on the pot. For example, if your 9-hole CH is 5, you’ll need to get 14 points or more to meet the quota. Bogeys are worth 1 point, pars 2, birdies 3 and eagles 4. If we don’t have enough initial participation, we will tweak the format and play a stableford-net game, where the top finishers each week will get paid out. This way there will be more money available for winners.

The cost each week is $10, so $5 goes into each pot. Winnings will be paid out in club credit. After the round, we’ll all get together at the O.C., play games on the simulator and watch Monday Night Football. There will be additional contests afterwards, so stick around! We’ll offer a food discount to whoever plays and stays for the games.

Fall Tournament Series –

Our first fall tournament is Retribution of the Ranch on September 23rd, followed by the 3-Sticker on October 14th and Heaven & Hell on October 28th. If you participate in all three, you’ll be entered into a points contest, where you’re awarded points based on how well you finish. There will be a prize at the end for the top finisher(s).

Keep in mind that we have the Children’s Miracle Network shotgun at 8am this Friday, September 8th (tee times available after 1:20pm), the East-West Cup on September 11th and 12th and the LA Open on September 30th. As always, please let us know if you have any questions, and we’re looking forward to seeing you for some fantastic fall golf at Hart Ranch!

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One Final Derby

One Final Derby

We just wanted to write a quick note thanking all of you who participated in the Friday Night Derby this year. Due to the way the earth orbits around the sun, tonight will be our last Friday Derby of the year (we’ll have another after the Spring Creek Classic).

Although many of us are used to playing team events like scrambles, they offer very little pressure compared to the Derby. Alternate shot is one of the toughest formats in golf, as you and your partner must find a way to navigate through 10+ teams with one ball. We’ve had tremendous highs (a father and his 10-year-old daughter winning) and severe lows (me missing a two-foot putt on 16 to lose).

The Derby is a little more like team sports than regular stroke-play or even scramble golf. There’s an added element of pressure due to not wanting to let your partner down, and also added triumph when you hit a really good shot. It starts out loud and boisterous, and becomes increasingly quiet as we progress through the holes and tension mounts. In my humble opinion, there’s not a better format in golf.

If you’re interested, give us a call or stop out around 5pm. The Derby begins at 5:30, and we have a discount for non-members. Again, thank you all for playing this year. We’re excited to keep it rolling next season!

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PGA Championship Preview

PGA Championship Preview

Course: Quail Hollow Club, Carmel, NC

7,600 Yards, Par 71

August 10th – 13th, 2017

Quail Hollow has undergone some renovations since we last saw the Wells Fargo played there in May of 2016 (James Hahn won, don’t expect it to happen again). In fact, as the last group teed off on the back 9, construction crews began a rapid 12-week renovation that would generally take 5-6 months on other courses. They added three holes, reshaped greens and fairways and removed a ton of timber. The course will play similar to as it has in the past, but we could see some moderately higher scores.

Since the Wells Fargo has been played there every year since 2003 (with the exception of this year), we have a lot of course history to borrow from. Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy and someone named Tiger have all won there. Justin Rose has a great track record, as well as Philthy Mickelson.

Players:

The big storyline will be whether Jordan Spieth can win the Career Grand Slam this week (he can). Thunderstorms are expected in Charlotte every day of the tournament, and soft conditions generally favor bombers. In fact, the best players in strokes gained in the rain (SGITR, it rhymes!) are, in order:

Rory McIlroy – 2.21

Dustin Johnson – 1.94

Sergio Garcia – 1.90

Adam Scott – 1.80

Rickie Fowler – 1.76

Henrik Stenson – 1.74

Jordan Spieth – 1.67

Jason Day – 1.67

Justin Rose – 1.60

Brooks Koepka – 1.59

None of them are exactly punch-and-judy knockers. We can probably expect one of these guys to win it, although Hideki Matsuyama just fired a course-record 61 at Firestone and if he’s on, watch out (also 1.32 SGITR).

Here are the Vegas odds:

Rory McIlroy

Open: 8/1

Current: 7/1

Jordan Spieth

8/1

8/1

Dustin Johnson

10/1

12/1

Hideki Matsuyama

20/1

12/1

Rickie Fowler

15/1

12/1

Brooks Koepka

20/1

20/1

Jon Rahm

20/1

25/1

Jason Day

20/1

25/1

Sergio Garcia

30/1

35/1

Henrik Stenson

30/1

35/1

Adam Scott

30/1

35/1

Justin Thomas

30/1

35/1

Paul Casey

50/1

35/1

Justin Rose

30/1

35/1

Phil Mickelson

40/1

40/1

Thomas Pieters

50/1

40/1

Matt Kuchar

40/1

50/1

Tommy Fleetwood

50/1

50/1

Daniel Berger

80/1

50/1

A quick note: last year Jimmy Walker was 125/1 and won it, so the truth is no one really knows anything when it comes to golf.

Here is my $1,000,000 DK Lineup, bound to change upwards of 50 times in the next few hours and demoralize me as I wish I’d kept my original lineup over the weekend:

Hideki Matsuyama

Adam Scott

Sergio Garcia

Gary Woodland

Tommy Fleetwood

Webb Simpson

The big money is on Rory and Spieth, for good reason. Rory has obliterated this course in the past and has two PGA Championships to his credit. Spieth’s veins run with glacier water. If I had to pick anyone, it would be Rory, but for some inexplicable reason I’m going with Sergio. I once boldly and wrongly predicted in 2011 that Sergio would win both the Masters and the PGA in the same year. Six years later, why not be wrong again (although things do line up well for him here)?

Hope you enjoy the tournament this weekend. It should be a little more interesting than most PGAs what with a career slam on the line and a lot of bombers at the top of the leaderboard. Good luck and happy golfing!

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The Hole 6 Branch (You know the one)

If you’ve played Hart Ranch recently, you’ll notice a little change on Hole 6. The immense tree that has claimed the lives of so many flying orbs has been amputated. She still stands, dispatching quick hooks and slices into the void, but she’s become a little less intimidating. The oft-battered branch that hung over the left side of the fairway and threatened every low ball hitter has been chopped down and burned in effigy.

It’s been said that Hole 6 is where Hart Ranch becomes challenging (although I can tell you there are plenty of places you don’t want to find your ball on Holes 1-5), and it’s no different now. We just wanted to give you a little better chance if you hit a quacker off the tee.

So here’s to you, Hole 6 tree. I’ve personally hit you 2,893 times (but who’s counting?), yet you still manage to endure. You’ve survived countless bad shots, Atlas and other Dakota tempests, and you’ll survive many more. We’re sorry to take a piece of you, but we’re glad we did. I’m sure I’ll hit you again soon. Until next time.

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August Happenings at Hart Ranch GC

August Happenings at Hart Ranch GC

We know, the weather has been stifling here in Rapid City lately. Almost every day has hit 95+, but it appears we’re going to be getting a break in the weather this week. Since many of you have braved the heat, we wanted to give you a break as well. Starting Tuesday, August 1st, we’ll be running a “Dog Days” promotion, where you can play 18 holes w/ cart for only $50 + tax after high noon(12pm to the layman). That’s a $24 savings off the normal price!

We also have the Hart Ranch Couples Tournament on Sunday, August 6th. We will be playing a Modified Chapman format in a 1:30pm shotgun, with a casual cookout to follow. Please register by 5pm on Friday, August 4th so we can get the event organized and handicapped. If you’re still looking for a partner, call the shop at (605) 341-5703 and we’ll try to get you paired up. You never know what sparks may fly!

The best tournament of the year begins on Saturday, August 26th and runs through Sunday, August 27th. The Spring Creek Classic is our annual member-guest, so if you’re not a Season Passholder or HartSmart member, see if you can talk one into playing with you. This is a really fun series of formats that concludes with a Sunday Shootout. There is plenty of pride and glory to be won and lost at the Spring Creek Classic.

Be sure to check your email for other promotions throughout the summer and fall seasons. We sometimes run email specials that only subscribers get. If you haven’t had a chance to experience Hart Ranch this season, come on out. The course is still in fantastic shape despite the weather, and we always look forward to making Hart the best place to golf in the Black Hills. See you soon!

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Open Championship Preview

Open Championship Preview

Blimey! It appears we’re going to have another soggy Open Championship this weekend, with wind and rain in the forecast every day (as it should be, really). I’m not sure what that means for predicting this thing, as my crystal ball has been out-of-order this season. Henrik Stenson and Philthy Mickelson put on a fine display at Royal Troon (they sure know how to name courses across the pond) last year, and if we get a show half as good at Royal Birkdale it’ll be well worth the watch. So strap on your knickers, brew a pot o’ tee and be prepared to stay up until the wee hours of the morn to see the best in the world putt from 50 yards off the green.

Course: Royal Birkdale, Southport, England, 7,173 Yards, Par 70

Past Champions (at Royal Birkdale): Pádraig Harrington, Mark O’Meara, Ian Baker-Finch, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Peter Thomson

156 Players, top 70 and ties make the cut after 36 holes

Fun Facts:

The trophy now awarded to the winner of the British Open is officially named the Championship Cup, though it is widely referred to as the “Claret Jug”. Claret is a dry red wine produced in the famous French winemaking region of Bordeaux. The British Open trophy was designed to look like the silver jugs used to serve claret at 19th century gatherings, thus the name. (Courtesy GolfDigest.com)

The winner of the first dozen Opens at Prestwick was presented with a red Morocco belt with silver clasps. Dubbed the “Challenge Belt,” it was purchased by the members at a cost of £25. “Young” Tom Morris captured four consecutive Opens held there from 1868-1872 (still an unprecedented feat). Under the original rules of competition, if a player won three times in a row, he was entitled to keep the prize — meaning there was nothing to play for in 1871, and therefore, no Open was held that year. (Courtesy GolfDigest.com)

British Open Records

Most wins: Harry Vardon has the most British Open wins with six.
Most times as runner up: Jack Nicklaus has been runner-up at the British Open seven times.
Most appearances: Gary Player has appeared at the British Open 46 times.
Oldest winner: In 1867, “Old” Tom Morris Sr. became the oldest golfer to win the British Open at 46 years and 99 days old.
Youngest winner: In 1868, his son, “Young” Tom Morris Jr. became the youngest golfer to win the British Open at 17 years and five months old.
(Courtesy CNN.com)

The Players:

At the U.S. Open, a lot of big names missed the cut at a course players were torching. DJ, Rory, Justin Rose, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson and yes, even my boy Graeme McDowell didn’t make the weekend. While I don’t necessarily expect the same, I don’t love Rory and DJ here. Both could certainly get hot and win, but Rory doesn’t like bad weather and DJ still hasn’t seemed to recover from falling down the stairs. Here’s a quick look at the Vegas odds:

Dustin Johnson 14-1
Jordan Spieth 14-1
Rickie Fowler 16-1
Jon Rahm 16-1
Sergio Garcia 18-1
Justin Rose 20-1
Rory McIlroy 20-1
Hideki Matsuyama 20-1
Tommy Fleetwood 22-1
Henrik Stenson 25-1
Adam Scott 28-1
Brooks Koepka 33-1
Jason Day 33-1
Paul Casey 33-1
Alex Noren 40-1
Phil Mickelson 40-1
Louis Oosthuizen 45-1
Branden Grace 45-1
Marc Leishman 50-1
Justin Thomas 50-1
Matt Kuchar 50-1
Thomas Pieters 50-1

I really like Fowler and Branden Grace in this spot. Rickie is due and Grace is a low-ball hitter who can keep it out of the wind. I’ll go with Rickie to win in a playoff. If you’re looking to lose some money, copy my $1,000,000 DK Lineup below:
Rickie Fowler
Adam Scott
Paul Casey
Branden Grace
Bernd Wiesberger
Justin Thomas

Well, there you have it. Hopefully you’ve learned something. Enjoy the weekend and I look forward to being wrong as always. Happy golfing!

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How to Pitch

How to Pitch

It’s common knowledge that the short game is the most important aspect of scoring. We often hear that 60-65% of our shots are taken from 100 yards and in (there are some discrepancies with that number because of close putts, but overall the data is correct), yet rarely does anyone spend 60% or more of their practice time on these shots.

If you’re a long hitter, you’ll have 5-10 (or more) 30-100 yard wedge shots on an average-length course (6,300 – 6,800 yards). If you’re shorter, you’ll need to make up ground on par 5s and long par 4s that you can’t always reach in two. While we tend to spend a lot of time trying to improve our full swing, the truth is that unless you really commit and practice A LOT, you’re going to have a difficult time changing your swing. While short game shots certainly require technique, the swing is shorter and the margin for error is a lot less drastic if we know what we’re doing. If you practice, you’ll develop touch, and be able to compete with anyone regardless of distance. Very few of us will ever hit it as far as Dustin Johnson, but if we really committed, we could be just as good around the green.

There are three things that really kill your score in golf: lost balls (including water hazards), not hitting the green from 100 yards and in and three-putting. If you avoided all three for an entire round, there’s a good chance you’d easily shoot your best score ever.

Today, we’ll focus on the second score-killer. If you know what you’re doing, pitching isn’t that difficult. There are two main faults, and they generally pertain to higher and lower handicappers.

Fault 1 (Higher Handicapper) – Trying to Lift the Ball

This is very common on all shots, but especially around the green. Novice players tend to leave all their weight on their back foot and try to help the ball into the air by scooping. This leads to poor contact, skulls and chunks. We need to learn to use the natural loft of the club to get the ball in the air.

We see this a lot. My weight is on the back foot and I’ve tried to help the ball into the air. This is the worst move you can make on any golf shot.

The Fix – Keep Your Weight on Your Front Foot Throughout

The first rule of setting up for any pitch shot is to lean towards the green. Lean your entire body so your head is even with or even in front of the ball (the ball should generally be played in the middle of your stance). Keep your feet close together, and feel ALL your weight in your front foot. Simply swing from hip to hip, pivoting around your front leg. The club should brush the grass without taking a big divot or missing the ground entirely.

Good setup. My weight is forward, the stance is narrow and shoulders are fairly level.

The Drill – Flamingo

Set up using the steps above, and leaving your front foot flat, drop your back foot back and raise your heel so you’re on the toes of your back foot. Now, hit some short pitches, rotating around your left hip. Let the clubhead brush the grass and keep all the tension out of your hands, shoulders and arms.

Flamingo drill setup.

Rotate around the left hip and keep tension out of your arms.

Fault 2 (Lower Handicapper) – Too Steep, Big Divots

People who’ve played for awhile tend to try too hard to hit down on the ball, especially on short shots. When we pitch, we want to use the bounce of the club, rather than the leading edge. Using the bounce will give us more spin and more room for error (using the leading edge you’ll have to strike the ball perfectly to get it close).

The Fix – Spin the Cover, Not the Core

While we definitely want the club to bottom out in front of the ball, it’s much more of a brushing the grass feeling than taking a deep divot. See if you can get a feeling for shallowing out the swing, letting the bounce of the club brush the grass rather than the leading edge.

Use the bounce rather than the leading edge.

The Drill – Hit Off Tight Lies

While lower-bounce wedges will do better with this drill, it will be helpful regardless. Find a tightly-mown area, hard dirt or even a cart path (use an old wedge!). Try to make good contact. Most players would be scared to death of a shot like this, but if you use the club the way it’s designed, you’ll be able to hit it pure and even put a lot of spin on the ball.

Good finish. I’ve rotated around my left leg and all the weight has stayed forward. The ball will fly high and land soft.

Remember these three things and you’ll improve your wedge game tremendously:

1. Always lean towards the green (weight on front foot and keep it there).
2. No tension in your hands, arms or shoulders throughout the swing.
3. Brush the grass with the bounce rather than the leading edge.

Happy Golfing!

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How to Read Greens

How to Read Greens

Putting begins with confidence. There are a lot of different putters, grips, stances and strokes, but all really good putters think they’re going to make everything The question is, where does that confidence come from? We certainly have fundamentals (mainly hitting the center of the face), but oftentimes those fundamentals are dependent on an absence of doubt. So, what happens? We get out, aren’t quite sure if we’re aimed correctly or if we’ve picked the right line, and all of a sudden we decelerate the putter or try to manipulate our putter during our stroke. That’s why reading greens is an extremely overlooked skill to this game that needs to be developed. If you’re confident in your line, a lot of other things fall into place.

Most golfers don’t put much into reading the green. They take a look, visualize what they think the ball might do and roll it. OK, so that’s one way to play, and it might not be bad if you’re at your local shaggy-greened muny par-3 course, but you’re going to struggle if you don’t have some idea what the ball is going to do when you play somewhere more challenging. Below are a few easy rules to follow. You don’t need to act like you’re putting for $200,000 and read your 3-footer from every angle in order to read a green.If you’re smart, you can play just as quickly as you normally do, all the while draining way more putts and lowering your score quickly.

 

1. Pay Attention

 

This seems easy, but a lot of us aren’t aware of what’s going on around the green. Here’s the cardinal rule: EVERY TIME THE BALL HITS AND ROLLS ON THE GREEN, IT’S GIVING YOU INFORMATION. When you’re 100 yards out, you actually have a much better perspective of overall slope than you do when you’re standing on the green. Pay attention to all shots, watch how they roll after they land, see if you can decipher the overall shape of the green (back-to-front slope, right-to-left, etc.). Watch other players putt and how the ball breaks around the hole. This isn’t rocket science, but many of us don’t even take the opportunities a normal round gives us. Pay attention and you’ll get a much better feel for what’s going to happen when you putt.

2. Use Your Feet

If you were blindfolded and walked onto a green, would you be able to feel the slope? You bet. This ties into paying attention. As you walk around, maybe pulling the pin out and marking your ball, pay attention to your feet. They’ll give you a good idea of how much slope there is and what is going to happen with the putt. Close your eyes for a few seconds as you walk. You’ll get a good feel for the slope.

3. The Break Follows the Water

Greens are built so water doesn’t stand and stagnate. Greens drain. Use it to your advantage. If you get the chance, check out Hart’s greens after a big rainstorm. You can see exactly where the water drains and you’ll begin to realize exactly what’s happening on certain areas of each green. Gravity doesn’t lie.

If you’ve been out to Hart Ranch lately, you’ve noticed the greens are slick and rolling true (which makes them tough). We pride ourselves on our greens, and for good reason. That’s the most important part of the course (and what courses spend the most money on). There’s a lot that goes into maintaining green complexes, and it goes without saying that no matter where we play (or how many beverages we’ve consumed) we should do our best to leave the greens better than we found them. Hope these quick tips give you something to think about next time you play. Remember, if you’re confident in your putting line, you’re off to a great start.

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